By Marian Magdalene Bangura – Strategic Communications Unit, Ministry of Information and Civic Education
At the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press briefing at the Miatta Conference Centre, the Minister of Social Welfare, Melrose Karminty; and the newly appointed Chief Commissioner of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), Brima A. Sheriff, announced major plans to boost economic empowerment and disability inclusion across Sierra Leone.
Minister Karminty disclosed that the upcoming launch of a national Economic Empowerment Project for Persons with Disabilities, scheduled Friday, 11 July 2025, is an initiative funded by nearly $1 million secured during her visit to New York, aimed to tackle poverty and unemployment among persons with disabilities. It also included the refurbishment and construction of training centres nationwide to discourage street begging and promote practical skills acquisition.
“Many persons with disabilities are not in need of sympathy, but of opportunity,” Minister Karminty stated. “This project will give them the tools to be economically independent, and we are grateful for our international partners for their continued support,” she said.
Commissioner Brima A. Sheriff, who had recently assumed office, shared his vision for disability development built around the PRIDE framework, Policy Engagement, Resilience, Inclusion, Dignity, and Empowerment. He pledged to move from policy declarations to tangible action, ensuring that persons with disabilities (PWDs) would not only be included but also empowered to live dignified and productive lives.
He announced that the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) plans to train over 1,000 PWDs in digital and entrepreneurial skills as part of a broader national effort to integrate persons with disabilities into Sierra Leone’s development agenda.
Commissioner Sheriff emphasized the importance of peace and unity in achieving progress, appealing to stakeholders to support inclusion as a national priority. He committed to serving as a strong voice for disability inclusion within government structures.
The briefing also highlighted key ongoing initiatives, including a vocational training programme launched in partnership with UNDP in Freetown. Refurbished training and rehabilitation centres in Makeni and Eastern Freetown are already serving as hubs for skills development, tool and food distribution, and livelihood support.
Minister Karminty also shared updates on the “Enabling Economic Independence for Specially Abled Persons” project, jointly funded by India and UNDP. Officially launched in May 2025 during the South–South Cooperation Forum, the project supported centre rehabilitation, entrepreneurship training, and the provision of mobility and assistive technologies.
Additionally, the ministry has developed a Five-Year Strategic Plan, which focuses on the economic empowerment and inclusion of PWDs, the professionalization of social work through a Regulatory Bill before Parliament, the introduction of a Religious Tolerance Policy, and the expansion of psychosocial support services.
The combination of targeted funding, bold leadership, and strategic vision signals a promising future for persons with disabilities in Sierra Leone.
Both Minister Karminty and Commissioner Sheriff reaffirmed their commitment to transforming inclusion from aspiration into action.
